Telang flower (Clitoria ternatea) is a plant that is not only beautiful with its bright blue color, but also has many health benefits. In addition to being used as a natural coloring material for food and drinks that are very attractive, telang flowers have various properties that can support the health of the body.
Benefits of Telang Flower
- Maintain eye health: Antioxidants and compounds that help blood flow to the eyes can protect and improve eye health.
- Lowers fever and relieves inflammation: Telang flowers have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce fever and pain due to inflammation.
- Relieves allergy and asthma symptoms: Compounds in bay flowers can reduce the production of histamine that triggers allergies and help relieve respiratory distress.
- Improves the circulatory system: The anthocyanins in bay flowers reduce arterial stiffness thereby improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure, potentially preventing heart disease.
- Maintains blood sugar stability: Telang flowers help control the absorption of blood sugar, suitable for diabetics.
- High in antioxidants: Helps protect body cells from free radical damage and acts as an anticancer and anti-inflammatory.
- Improves skin and hair health: Flavonoids in telang flowers can reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth.
- Helps detoxify the body and improve digestion.
How to Process Telang Flowers into Drinks
1. Simple Telang Flower Tea
- Prepare 200 ml of hot water.
- Add 1 handful of fresh bay flowers or 10 dried bay flower petals.
- Soak for 15 minutes until the water turns bluish-blue.
- Strain and serve warm.
2. Betel Leaf Tea with Lemongrass
- Boil 1 liter of water, add 15 petals and 5 lemongrass stems that have been cut into small pieces.
- Cook until lemongrass aroma comes out and blue color appears.
- Strain, add sugar or honey if you like, then serve.
3. Lemon Telang Flower Iced Tea Recipe (Fresh and Beautifully Colored)
- Bring 300 ml of water to a boil, pour into 7 pieces of bay flower, let stand for 10 minutes.
- Add sugar or honey, ice cubes to taste.
- Add lemon or lime juice for additional benefits and purple color.
- Stir and serve chilled.
4. Telang Flower Milk Ice
- Brew bay flowers with hot water, let the color turn blue.
- Strain then add sugar, stir well.
- Prepare ice cubes and white liquid milk in a glass, slowly pouring bayang flower tea on top.
- Add a squeeze of lemon for a pretty purple color.
Apart from being served in the form of tea, telang flowers can also be used as a natural coloring in various foods and drinks such as rice, pudding, or cakes.
Warning:
- Consume telang flowers in reasonable amounts, as excessive consumption may cause nausea or diarrhea.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should consult before consuming telang flowers.
(DI)